Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Analyzing the Influence of Ethical Marketing Practices on Consumer Purchase Behaviour:A Study on Consumer Durables in India


Affiliations
1 Department of Commerce and Business Administration, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata, West Bengal, India
2 Department of Management, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata, West Bengal, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Major brands and organizations across the globe are resorting to the use of societal and ethical marketing practices, to differentiate themselves from their rivals. The challenges involved in demonstrating their contributions to society are multitudinous, given that consumers consciously seek to evaluate this contribution. Advertisements are deemed as misleading or deceptive when the audience exposed to it hold false beliefs and ideas consequently. Unfair pricing mechanisms adopted by companies are also fervent issues in micro-consumerism, which is highly sensitive to consumers. Environmental consumerism is another growing trend in assessing the pro-ethical and pro-environmental purchase considerations of consumers. The current study seeks to establish the impact of Trustworthy Advertising Campaigns (TAC), Genuine Packaging and Labelling (GPL), Ecological Conscientiousness (ECN) and Enterprising Customer Care (ECC) on the purchase behaviour of consumers with reference to washing machines and televisions. To this end, a sample of 307 respondents dwelling across India has been considered. The study indicates that Trustworthy Advertising Campaigns (TAC) have a significant impact on the purchase behaviour of consumers for both washing machines and televisions. Genuine Packaging and Labelling (GPL) has a significant impact on the Purchase Behaviour of Consumers (CPB) in case of televisions but an insignificant impact on washing machine purchases. The claim that Ecological Conscientiousness (ECN) has a significant impact on the consumer purchase behaviour is only supported for washing machines but unsupported for televisions. Enterprising Customer Care (ECC) has a significant impact on the purchase behaviour of consumers for both washing machines and televisions. It has been observed that the ethical practices of organizations have a direct relationship with the evaluations and appraisals made by their consumers, which is ultimately mirrored in their modelled purchase behaviour. It is therefore imperative for companies to spend more time on ethico-moral marketing practices and create a futuristic orientation for a better marketplace.

Keywords

Trustworthy Advertising Campaigns, Genuine Packaging and Labelling, Ecological Conscientiousness, Enterprising Customer Care, Consumer Purchase Behaviour.
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Aaronson, S. A. (2002). How the Europeans got a head start on policies to promote global corporate responsibility. Corporate Environmental Strategy, 9(4), 356-367.
  • Abdul-Muhmin, A. (2007). Explaining consumers’ willingness to be environmentally friendly. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 31, 237-247.
  • Agarwalla, K., & Ghose, A. K. (2016). E-waste management and recycling in India. International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology, 5(4), 5701-5708.
  • Anderson, J. C., & Gerbing, D. W. (1992). Assumptions and comparative strengths of the two-step approach: Comment on Fornell and Yi. Sociological Methods and Research, 20(1), 321-333.
  • Attas, D. (1999). What’s wrong with “deceptive” advertising? Journal of Business Ethics, 21(1), 49-59.
  • Bentler, P. M. (1988). Casual modelling via structural equation systems. Handbook of Multivariate Experimental Psychology: Perspectives on Individual Differences, 317-335.
  • Bolton, L. E., Warlop, L., & Alba, J. W. (2003). Consumer perceptions of price (Un) fairness. Journal of Consumer Research, 29(4), 474-92.
  • Bondy, T., & Talwar, V. (2011). Through thick and thin: How fair trade consumers have reacted to the global economic recession. Journal of Business Ethics, 101(3), 365-383.
  • Cant, M. (2010). Introduction to Retailing (2nd ed.). Cape Town: Juta and Company Ltd.
  • Chau, P. Y. K., & Hu, P. J.-H. (2001). Information technology acceptance by individual professionals: A model comparison approach. Decision Sciences, 32, 69-719.
  • Dobson, A. (2007). Environmental citizenship: Towards sustainable development. Sustainable Development, 15, 276-285.
  • Doran, C. J. (2009). The role of personal values in fair trade consumption. Journal of Business Ethics, 84(4), 549-563.
  • Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39-50.
  • French, J., Caplan, R., & Harrison, R. (1982). The mechanisms of job stress and strain. Chichester: Wiley.
  • Gefen, D., & Straub, D. W. (1997). Gender differences in the perception and use of E-Mail: An extension to the technology acceptance model, 21(4), 389-400.
  • Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2010). Multivariate data analysis (7th ed.). Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey; pp. 23-67.
  • Hastak, M., & Mazis, M. B. (2011). Deception by implication: A typology of truthful but misleading advertising and labelling claims. Journal of Public Policy and Marketing, 30(2), 157-167.
  • Hunt, N., & Dorfman, B. (2009). How Green is my Wallet? Organic Food Growth Slows. Reuters. Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://www.reuters.com
  • Iftekhar, H., Ayub, A., Razzaq, A., & Aslam, M. S. (2013). Detrimental effects of marketing practices on consumers’ buying behaviours. Business Management Dynamics, 2(10), 1-5.
  • Ismail, H., & Panni, M. (2008). Consumers perceptions on the consumerism issues and their influence on their purchasing behaviour: A view from Malaysian food industry. Journal of Legal, Ethical and Regulatory Issues, 11(1), 43-64.
  • Jacqueline, K. E., & Jun, L. (2012). The impact of generational cohorts on status consumption: An exploratory look at generational cohort and demographics on status consumption. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 29(2), 93-102.
  • Karu-Salo, I. (2013). The Effect of Universal Emotions on Consumer Behaviour. Estonian Business School, Department of Marketing, Master’s Thesis. Tallinn 2013.
  • Kim, W. C., & Mauborgne, R. (2005). Blue ocean strategy: How to create uncontested market space and make the competition irrelevant. Boston, Mass: Harvard Business School Press.
  • Kim, Y., & Choi, S. M. (2005). Antecedents of green purchase behaviour: An examination of collectivism, environmental concern, and PCE. Advances in Consumer Research, 32, 592-599.
  • Kline, R. B. (2010). Principles and practices of structural equation modelling. Guilford Press.
  • Kulkarni, S. (2015). A Brief Report on Consumer Durables Industry in India”. [White Paper]. Retrieved November 20, 2016, from ASA & Associated LLP: http://www.asa.in/file-download?file=%2FUpload% 2FfldInsights%2FConsumer-Durables-Industry-inIndia.pdf&mac=HpDt%2FJB%2FbYljtLQGXoDkbPxGcB92Exc1slHT4Ncgi5w%3D
  • Landler, M. (1991, 25th Feb.). Suddenly, Green Marketers are Seeing Red Flags. Business Week, 74-76.
  • Levy, M., & Weitz, B. A. (2012). Retailing management (8th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill.
  • Lindstrom, M. (2008). Buy ology: Truth and lies about why we buy. New York: Doubleday.
  • Ma, Y. J., Littrell, M. A., & Niehm, L. (2012). Young female consumers’ intentions toward fair trade consumption. International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management, 40(1), 41-63.
  • McEachern, M. G., Warnably, G., Carrigan, M., & Szmigin, I. (2010). Thinking locally, acting locally?Conscious consumers and farmers’ markets. Journal of Marketing Management, 26(5-6), 395-412.
  • Mingquan, Z. (2003). Green Food Market Promises Bright Future. Market Trends. Retrieved from http://info.hktdc.com/report/mkt/mkt_031002.htm (Accessed on October 8, 2016).
  • Moisander, J. (2001). Representation of green consumerism: A constructionist critique. Helsinki School of Economics, Helsinki, p. 185.
  • Namias, J. (2013). Future of Electronic Waste Recycling in the United States: Obstacles and Domestic Solutions. Unpublished master’s thesis, Columbia University.
  • Nwachukwu, S. L., Vitell, S. J., Gilbert, F. W., & Barnes, J. H. (1997). Ethics and social responsibility in marketing: An examination of the ethical evaluation of advertising strategies. Journal of Business Research, 39, 107-118.
  • Ozbek, V., Alnıaçık, U., & Koç, F. (2012). The impact of unfair business practices on bank customers: An experimental study. Ege Academic Review, 12(1), 23-30.
  • Pepper, M., Jackson, T., & Uzzell, D. (2009). An examination of the values that motivate socially conscious and frugal consumer behaviours. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 33(2), 126-136.
  • Philips, C. (1939). Supermarket and chain-store food prices. The Journal of Business, 12, p.323.
  • Piacentini, M., McFadyen, L., & Eadie, D. (2000). Corporate social responsibility in food retailing. International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management, 28(11), 459-469.
  • Quazi, M. A. (2002). Managerial views of consumerism: A two-country comparison. European Journal of Marketing, 36(1/2), 36-50.
  • Rajya Sabha Secretariat, R. (2011). E-Waste in India. Retrieved November 22, 2016, from http://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/publication_electronic/E-Waste_in_india.pdf
  • Roy, S. (2016). Anatomizing the dynamics of societal behaviour towards e-waste management and recycling initiatives: A case study of Kolkata, India. Management and Labour Studies, 41(1), 19-36.
  • Sadiku, M. N. O., Musa, S. M., & Nelatury, S. R. (2016). What e-waste is all about. Journal of Scientific and Engineering Research, 3(5), 128-130.
  • Schlegelmilch, B., & Öberseder, M. (2010). Half a century of marketing ethics: Shifting perspectives and emerging trends. Journal of Business Ethics, 93(1), 1-19.
  • Shanahan, K., & Hopkins, C. (2007). Truths, half-truths, and deception: Perceived social responsibility and intent to donate for a non-profit using implicature, truth, and duplicity in print advertising. Journal of Advertising, 36(2), 33-48.
  • Sheth, M., Shah, M., Bagaria, G., Satish, A., & Goel, G. (2015). Study on Indian Electronics and Consumer Durables Segment (AC, refrigerators, washing machines, TVs) (EYIN1504-037). Retrieved November 20, 2016, from Ernst & Young LLP and FICCI Publication: http://www.ey.com/publication/vwluassets/ey-study-on-indian-electronics-and-consumerdurables/$file/ey-study-on-indian-electronics-andconsumerdurables.pdf
  • Singh, R. (2011). How Tangible Your Library is in the Digital Environment? Implications of Social Media Marketing in Reinventing Communities’ Library Experiences. In Marketing Libraries in a Web 2.0 World; Gupta, D.K. and Savard, R. (eds); pp. 97-108.
  • Soni, P. (2013). An analytical study of opportunities and challenges of service industry in India. Asian Research Journal of Business Management, 1(2), 21-27.
  • Strong, C. (1996). Features contributing to the growth of ethical consumerism: A preliminary investigation. Marketing Intelligence and Planning, 14(5), 5-13.
  • Sudbury, L., & Böltner, S. (2010). Fashion Marketing and the Ethical Movement versus Individualist Consumption: Analysing the attitude-behaviour gap. European Advances in Consumer Research, 9, 163-168.
  • Sudbury-Riley, L. (2014). Unwrapping senior consumers’ packaging experiences. Marketing Intelligence and Planning, 32(6), 666-686.
  • Sudbury-Riley, L., & Kohlbacher, F. (2015). Ethically minded consumer behaviour: Scale review, development, and validation. Journal of Business Research, 69(8), 2697-2710.
  • Uusitalo, O., & Oksanen, R. (2004). Ethical consumerism: A view from Finland. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 28(3), 214.

Abstract Views: 744

PDF Views: 1




  • Analyzing the Influence of Ethical Marketing Practices on Consumer Purchase Behaviour:A Study on Consumer Durables in India

Abstract Views: 744  |  PDF Views: 1

Authors

Shaunak Roy
Department of Commerce and Business Administration, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Shivaji Banerjee
Department of Management, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Abstract


Major brands and organizations across the globe are resorting to the use of societal and ethical marketing practices, to differentiate themselves from their rivals. The challenges involved in demonstrating their contributions to society are multitudinous, given that consumers consciously seek to evaluate this contribution. Advertisements are deemed as misleading or deceptive when the audience exposed to it hold false beliefs and ideas consequently. Unfair pricing mechanisms adopted by companies are also fervent issues in micro-consumerism, which is highly sensitive to consumers. Environmental consumerism is another growing trend in assessing the pro-ethical and pro-environmental purchase considerations of consumers. The current study seeks to establish the impact of Trustworthy Advertising Campaigns (TAC), Genuine Packaging and Labelling (GPL), Ecological Conscientiousness (ECN) and Enterprising Customer Care (ECC) on the purchase behaviour of consumers with reference to washing machines and televisions. To this end, a sample of 307 respondents dwelling across India has been considered. The study indicates that Trustworthy Advertising Campaigns (TAC) have a significant impact on the purchase behaviour of consumers for both washing machines and televisions. Genuine Packaging and Labelling (GPL) has a significant impact on the Purchase Behaviour of Consumers (CPB) in case of televisions but an insignificant impact on washing machine purchases. The claim that Ecological Conscientiousness (ECN) has a significant impact on the consumer purchase behaviour is only supported for washing machines but unsupported for televisions. Enterprising Customer Care (ECC) has a significant impact on the purchase behaviour of consumers for both washing machines and televisions. It has been observed that the ethical practices of organizations have a direct relationship with the evaluations and appraisals made by their consumers, which is ultimately mirrored in their modelled purchase behaviour. It is therefore imperative for companies to spend more time on ethico-moral marketing practices and create a futuristic orientation for a better marketplace.

Keywords


Trustworthy Advertising Campaigns, Genuine Packaging and Labelling, Ecological Conscientiousness, Enterprising Customer Care, Consumer Purchase Behaviour.

References